Alabama Department of Public Health: Fourth probable swine flu case

Susan Chapman, a veteran from Waverly Hall, Ga., stands in line for a clinic appointment Thursday at the VA Hospital in Birmingham. Many Alabama hospitals began distributing masks, tissues and hand sanitizer Thursday as protection against possible swine flu. Chapman requested a mask after she saw another patient coughing frequently without covering his mouth.

A third student in Madison County is a probable H1N1 2009 or swine flu patient, state health officer Dr. Don Williamson has announced.

He said the child, a pupil at Heritage Elementary School, is recovering well as an outpatient. There are three probable cases at the school and another in Montgomery, a young woman in her 20s.

He said the department has received another 130 samples to test today alone.